SCRATCH AND SCRUMMAGE

It is said that rugby is a dangerous and violent game, whose participants often get hurt. We are seeing some early clashes from the Rugby World Cup being held in Japan and certainly there are many formidable physiques to admire or dread depending on which side you are following. However rather more blood, at least metaphorically, is being shed in and around Westminster where the Crown and Executive at No.10, the Legislature at the Houses of Parliament and the Judiciary at the Supreme Court are colliding in an unprecedentedly deadly conflict, with the luckless citizen and voter consigned to the margins. It is not clear who will prevail, but the hurt and damage could be extensive.

Gloating Commons Speaker Bercow

Spider-brooched Lady Hale of the Supreme Court

In rugby, good looks do not last long and English back and one-time Captain Owen Farrell was once easy on the eye. He is now rather battered and bruised, not unlike our Westminster Prime Minister Boris Johnson, coarsened by keeping company with some ghastly MPs and being attacked viciously by his own brother and sister. He has had to grow a second tough skin and all the pious talk condemning his use of words like “traitor” and “betrayal” is mere humbug.

Boris Johnson, grimly attacked on all sides

Owen Farrell, fouled by high tackles

We know that “dirty tricks” emanate from the scrummages or from behind the Speaker’s Chair; some heavyweights are to be found there. In rugby we can depend upon gigantic 24-stone Tongan Ben Tameifuna and England’s tough customer Joe Marler.

Ben Tameifuma, 24-stone Tongan

England veteran Joe Marler

Yet far more conspiratorial are the Westminster front and second rows. The extra-large sized Emily Thornberry (actually Lady Nugee, a toff married to High Court judge Sir Christopher) has changed her views on Brexit several times, as has every Labourite, and she is the shadow Foreign secretary. Where her allegiances now lie was clear from her wearing of a European star necklace and Brussels blue dress on addressing the Labour Conference. The Tories could field Nicholas Soames, from whom the Tory Whip was withdrawn for his defiance; his ex-wife disloyally said that being made love to by Nicholas was like having a heavy wardrobe fall on you with a small key sticking out!

Emily Thornberry (not known as Lady Nugee)

Arrogant Christopher Soames

At least the rugby teams in Japan know the rules of the game even if they are regularly updated. Boris is not so lucky, as the Supreme Court has ambushed him with its “constitutional coup” advancing its controversial powers of Judicial Review to embrace Royal Prerogative matters like Prorogation. Soon the holding of elections will be subject to a judge’s fiat: we do not want a politicised Judiciary as it will inevitably lead to American-style nomination procedures, with MPs deciding on the suitability of appointees to our Supreme Court.

Back in Parliament, aided and abetted by the supposedly neutral Speaker, the execrable John Bercow, the Opposition has forced through an Act designed to prevent a No Deal Brexit (ultimately an Executive matter) and insisting Boris writes a letter (text set out in the Act) seeking an extension of Article 50 from the EU. Boris says no, let’s instead have an election. The Opposition refuses, knowing the public want Brexit, deal or no deal, and that they will lose many seats.

When the election comes, as come it will, Boris will surely protect his Leaver bloc by having an electoral pact with Farage’s Brexit Party and they together will sweep the board. The Remainers will have lost the election, but they will also have lost all respect from an electorate they have obstructed, cheated and deceived for these long 3 years.

In Japan it is possible to say “may the best team win” the Rugby World Cup. No such magnanimity is possible in the Brexit struggle. In conclusion I give you two midgets, a doughty and courageous Japanese scrum half (5ft 4in) and 72 kilos, Fumiaki Tanaka. The other is insincere, unthinking, confused and incompetent Labour Leader Jeremy Corbyn, maybe our next Prime Minister if the Remainer plotters get their way. Which seems a better fellow to you?

Fumiaki Tanaka passes the ball

 

Jeremy Corbyn narrows his eyes

SMD

26.09.19

Text Copyright © Sidney Donald 2019